Sportsradio 610 KILT in Houston is reporting that the Shanghai Sharks offices have answered a fax from the Rockets office welcoming a face-to-face meeting in China in the near future (ie: the next week - 10 days). Bai Li would be meeting with Rudy T and probably CD.
I also heard that on the radio. If the Rockets are going to pick MING with the 1st pick, then this meeting is going to have to answer alot of questions on both sides. Can't wait to hear from the insiders of what the Rockets think once they return from China. Hopefully Rudy and Co. can return with a signed sheet that allows Ming to be part of the Rockets for the entire NBA season as well as the playoffs.
If this is true, it's very important news. As heypartner has pointed out Bai Li is in a position of authority and up until now Li Yaomin has been a pain in the a** mouthpiece. Maybe the meetings will get Li Yaomin silenced and get some real negotiations accomplished (via Bai Li).
I just hope that whomever they have a face ot face meeting with is THE guy and has the FINAL say on Yao's status. I would hate to have the Rockets come back to the US thinking they have all the permission/sigs/contracts they need only to find out that there is yet another agency/gov't official that didn't give his blessing yet.
Any news on the sharks letting our doctor have a look at Mr. Ming? Rudy goes to China...sounds like a bad movie
I can't wait, I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't study, I can't take a bath, I can't have sex, I can't........
No. the trip is in trouble. here is a link sports.sina.com.cn/k/2002-06-08/08279806.shtml ( in Chinese) Three things said: Shanghai Shark Club declined the rockets' visiting. They didn't like ming to be traded to other team if Rockets pick him. If Ming is not No 1. of draft, he will not be allowed to play in NBA. I hope this news is only a negotiation trick.
That is old news. Basically the article just repeats what Li Yao Min talked about 2 days earlier. And I think our fellow posters have already been discussing about that in a few other threads for the last two days. Latest news I heard things have been cleared up and the trip is on.
<b> here is a link sports.sina.com.cn/k/2002-06-08/08279806.shtml ( in Chinese) Three things said: Shanghai Shark Club declined the rockets' visiting. They didn't like ming to be traded to other team if Rockets pick him. If Ming is not No 1. of draft, he will not be allowed to play in NBA. <B> Old news. Remember there are bunch Chinese journalist also "report" things just translated from US papers, especially on the web. So keep an eye on their source in reading these, whether they interviewed the person etc.
I just read this article, and I'm a little suspicious. For one thing, it doesn't introduce anything new. No new quotes, no new events are described... it quotes from John Dao's comments to Houston television a few nights ago (ie: "Sharks want the Rockets to guarantee no trade..."), and from the article posted here yesterday with direct quotes from Li Yaomin (ie: "not the right time to visit"). In fact, this article claims something I've never, ever seen the Chinese side even *suggest*: that Yao Ming wouldnt' be allowed to come if he wasn't first picked. I've seen that before speculated in the American press, but never seen anyone from the Sharks/authorities make anything close to resembling that comment. It also talks about everyone trying to trade up for J-Will... wasn't there an article in the US papers this morning talking about this? I think this might be a Chinese re-rendering of one of the American articles. And I also think it might be an attempt to motivate Chinese fans to put some pressure on the Sharks GM to lighten up... (or gasp, their favorite hero might not play in the NBA). All I know is that this article doesn't reveal any new "facts".
http://www.nba.com/rockets/ -This was just put up on the Rockets official website less than an hour ago so I think this is the the only source to trust- Rockets Heading To China June 7 - The Rockets have accepted an invitation from Shanghai Sharks officials to meet in China regarding the availability of Yao Ming for the 2002 NBA Draft. Rockets General Counsel Michael Goldberg received an invitation last night from Shanghai Sharks President Bai Li to meet with him and General Manager Li Yaomin. Goldberg is the lead negotiator for the Rockets and has the authority to act on behalf of the Rockets on matters related to Yao Ming. “We have complete confidence in Michael’s ability to complete this negotiation successfully,” said Rockets owner Leslie Alexander. Goldberg will be accompanied by general manager Carroll Dawson, Head Coach Rudy Tomjanovich, and media relations director Nelson Luis on the trip to China.
